emendation (re-diagnosis of genus) Paterson, I.G.; Gibson, G.D. (2003). A new species of Amphipolydora (Polychaeta: Spionidae) from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 37(4): 733-740., available online athttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2003.9517203page(s): 734 [details]

Diagnosis Diagnosis by Paterson & Gibson (2003: 734): ''Prostomium is entire on anterior margin, extending posteriorly as a caruncle; eyes are present or absent; nuchal tentacle is absent. Chaetiger 1 is without notochaetae. Modified chaetiger 5 has two types of major notopodial spines: (1) anterior spines are distally expanded with terminal tooth and surrounding collar; (2) posterior spines are simple acicular; superior notochaetal and neurochaetal fascicles are present. Hooded hooks are bidentate, from chaetiger 7, with conspicuous angle between teeth and no constriction on the shaft. Branchiae are absent. Prominent dorsal bacillary glands are present on anterior chaetigers. Pygidium is reduced.'' The original diagnosis by Blake (1983: 253) was emended by Paterson & Gibson (2003: 734) to include species with eyes. [details]

Etymology The name of the genus is composed by the Greek prefix amphi-, meaning 'around', 'at both ends' or 'of both kinds', and the name of the close genus Polydora Bosc, 1802, named after a nymph of the Ancient Greece mythology, and refers to the close affinities that Amphipolydora shares with related genera. [details]

Habitat Probably a genus of specialist sponge borers reproducing by architomy to form colonies thereon (A. vestalis), although the type was not recorded as associated with a sponge (but see comments of Paterson & Gibson, 2003) [details]